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Hundreds of Chapecoense fans have gathered at their team's stadium in mourning after the plane carrying the team crashed in Colombia.

The aircraft was carrying 81 people and suffered technical problems, with 76 people losing their lives in the tragedy.

This included the majority of the Brazilian team's first-team squad, coaching staff and a raft of directors, with grieving fans quickly making their way to the club's Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco to pay their respects.

The team were flying out to play the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional in what was set to be the biggest match in the team's history.

(Photo: REUTERS)

Hundreds of fans made their way to the stadium (Photo: REUTERS)

The supporters prayed and sang songs (Photo: REUTERS)

The club's vice-president Ivan Tozzo invite fans to congregate at the stadium to mourn together in this time of incomprehensible grief and sadness.

"We are gathered at the stadium," he announced.

"We welcome all people who are affected, people who love Chapecoense."

Joining the grief-stricken fans at the club's facility were nine squad members who did not make the trip to Colombia.

The team were on their way to Colombia when tragedy struck (Photo: REUTERS)

Fans were united in grief (Photo: REUTERS)

"Pray for my teammates," tweeted Alejandro Martinuccio, one of Chapecoense's two overseas players, who was left out of the squad with an injury. The former Villarreal forward kicked a dustbin to the ground as he arrived, glassy-eyed, at the club's base.

Others prayed at the shrine in their changing room.

A supporter shows a magazine featuring the team (Photo: REUTERS)

The majority of the first-team squad died in the crash (Photo: REUTERS)

"I can't believe it," defender Demerson told local reporters. The 30-year-old would have been in the squad if his coach hadn't instead opted for Caio Jr.

"It can't be true," said Nenem. Distraught players gathered in the changing rooms in silence while fans wept outside.

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Back-up goalkeeper Marcelo Boeck, who didn't travel, was given permission to miss the trip because it was his birthday, his agent has revealed.

"Lifelong friends were on that flight. It looks unlikely that many survived," added Plinio David de Nes Filho, the president of the club's board.

"This was not just a group founded on mutual respect; it was a family.

"We lived in harmony, with great happiness. Before boarding the flight, they said they were going to turn their dreams into reality.